Time-recorder for workmen or servants or like apparatus.



No. 704.854. ,P'atented July I5, 1902, F. BROOK.

TIME RECORDER FOR WORKMEN 0B SERVANTS 0R LIKE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb: 27, 1902.)

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No. 704,854. Patented July l5, I902. F. BROOK.

TIME RECORDER FOR WORKMEN 0R SERVANTS 0R LIKE APPARATUS.

(Applicatiun filed Feb. 27, 1902.)

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TIME RECORDER FOR WORKMEN 0R SERVANTS 0R LIKE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1902. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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No. 704,854. Patented m l5, I902. F. BROOK.

TIME RECORDER FOR WORKMEN 0R SERVANTS 0R LIKE APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1902.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BROOK, OF LINDLEY, HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO PETER MACMASTER, OF HAMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENG- LAND.

TlME-RECORDER FOR WORKMEN OR SERVANTS OR LIKE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 704,854, dated July 15, 1902.

Application filed February 2'7,

To all whom it rmty concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BROOK, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Lindley, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, have inventedvcertain new and useful Improvements in Time-Recorders for Workmen or Servants or Like Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention aims to construct a time-recorder which shall be simple in its construction, strong,durable, efficient in its operation, and comparatively inexpensive to set up; and to this end it consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto'appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the lower portion of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the improved mechanism. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the actuating-lever is depressed. Fig. 4 is a section on the line X X, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a section on the line Y Y, Fig. 4.. Figs. 6 and '7 are respectively a sectional plan and a front elevation drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating details of construction. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section showing an improved depressible lid or table.

Like characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

a is the frame of the mechanism. Z) is a rock-shaft pivotally mounted in the lower part of the said frame and serving to distribute the motive power to the several auxiliary mechanisms, as hereinafter described. This rock-shaft is provided with an arm a, which is acted upon by a spring d sufficiently strong to return all the parts to their normal positions after being displaced, as hereinafter described. The arm 0 is forked at its outer end to receive a pin 6, whereby it receives motion,

1902. SerialN0-95,960. llomodel.)

l as hereinafter described. The pin e is fixed to a lever f, which is adjustably mounted, by means of aslot g, set-screw 71, and arm j, on a shaft 7c,pivotally mounted in brackets Z on the cover m of the machine and provided with an external handle 91-, which preferably moves between stops G0 for limiting its travel. By these means the cover m can be readily detached, carrying with it the handle n and driving-pin c. The shaft is also provided with an arc-shaped rack 0, Fig. 5, for engaging with a spring-controlled pawl 23, pivoted at q, which pawl when the handle n is moved away from either of its limiting positions is deflected from its normal position, Fig. 5, and clicks over the teeth of the rack 0 and prevents the return of the handle a so long as the rack o is engaged with the pawl p; but when the rack has passed out of engagement with the pawl the handle can be moved back again. By this means I prevent incomplete operation of the several auxiliary mechanisms hereinafter described.

The rock-shaft Z) bears a toothed segment r, which gears with a pinion s, mounted so as to turn on the arbor of the paper-feed roller 15 and prevented from moving axially thereon by means of a plate 70, screwed to the said pinion and engaging with a groove 71 in the said arbor, Fig. 7. The pinion sis, moreover, provided with an arc-shaped slot to, into which extends a pin "(7 on a pawl-carrier 10, also mounted so as to turn on the arbor of the feed-roller t. The pawl a; of the pawl-carrier 10 engages with a ratchet-wheel 'y, formed on the adjacent end of the feed-roller If, the other end of the said roller being provided with a second ratchet-wheel e, which engages with a retaining-pawl 2, mounted on the frame a, for preventing backward rotation of the said roller. By these means when the rock-shaft b is turned by actuating the handle a, as above mentioned, the pinion s will turn freely through a small angle before driving the pawlcarrier 10 and feed-roller if, this dwell or retardation being SlllllClGIlli to enable the time to be printed on the recording-strip, as hereinafter described, before the said strip begins to move into position to receive the autograph. On the return of the said rock-shaft to its normal position by the spring 62 the feed-roller is held back by its retaining-paw 2, while the pinion and pawl-carrier are returned to their original positions by the toothed segment, the pin 71 meanwhile moving back to the other end of its slot, so as to provide the lost motion on again actuating the handle a.

The paper recording-strip 3 is stored on a magazine-spool 4:, having detachable flanges and turning in slots 5 in the frame Ct. From this spool the paper passes beneath the timewheels 6, which are driven from a clock through a flexible shaft 7 in any suitable known manner, then passes up in front of the said time-wheels and over an inclined writing-table 8, where the autograph is written. By this arrangement the time is printed on the same side of the paper as that on which the autograph is afterward written. From the table 8 the paper passes to a frictionroller 9, which is mounted in bearings 10, secured to springs ll, whereby it is pressed against the feed-roller t. The paper strip passes around the front of the friction-roller 9, between the friction and feed rollers, and then around the under side of the feed-roller to the receiving-roller 12, which is mounted in slots 13 in a frame 14, oscillating about pivots 15 in the frame a, and acted upon by a spring 16, so as to hold the said receivingroller against the feed-roller t. The said feedroller is preferably formed with milled or otherwise externally-roughened rings 17, projecting from its surface, to grip the paper. These rings are preferably made separately from the roller 15 and are secured in position, for example, by means of set-screws f, Fig. 7, so as to enable them to be replaced by similar rings of different diameter in order to vary the amount of paper fed at each actuation of the handle n, or the pinion and toothed segment can be interchanged for others having a different velocity ratio. This adjustment can also be effected by a system of intermediate wheels.

In the cover m there is formed an opening having a glass 18 beneath it, this glass being provided with an aperture 20, arranged above the table 8 and adapted to be opened and closed by a shutter 21 to enable the autograph to be written on the strip 3, the glazed opening extending forward for a short distance to enable the last two or three records on the said strip to be seen from the exterior. The shutter 21 slides in guides 22 on the table 8 and is provided with downwardly-extending forks 23, in each of which moves a crankpin 24 on an arbor 25, pivotally mounted in the frame a and provided with an arm 26. The said arm is pivotally connected to the segment-arm by means of a link 27 through a slot 28, so that the shutter 21 will not begin to uncover the strip until the time has been printed thereon, as hereinafter described.

The printing-hammer 29 is mounted on a spring-arm 30, which is fixed on a spring-com trolled hammer-shaft 31, whereby the inner or shaft end of the said spring-arm is held against a stop 32 in such a position that the hammer normally stands close against the opposite side of the strip 3 to that on which the record is to be made. The hub of the hammer 29 is provided with a projection 33, which is preferably faced with steel or other wear-resisting metal, with which engages a similarly-faced projection 3i on a bar or link 35, which is pivotally connected at one end to the toothed segment-arm r. The bar 35 is controlled by springs 36, so as to normally hold the two projections 33 3a in engagement with each other. The said bar is, moreover, provided with a cam-surface 37, engaging with a fixed pin 38 and adapted during the longitudinal motion of the said bar, when the hammer has been drawn back a sufficient dis tance during the oscillation of the rock-shaft b, to move the bar 35, so as to disengage the projection 34: from the projection 33 on the hub of the hammer 29, and thus allow the said hammer on its return to strike the recording-strip 3 and bring it into contact with the type-wheels 6 and inking-ribbon 39, lying between said strip and type-wheels. W'hile the time is being printed the feed-roller t is at rest, as above described, and after the hammer has struck the ribbon the lost motion in the wheel 8 will have been taken up, and the pin '1 will then be driven, thus moving the paper forward and bringing the timeprint onto the table 8 to enable the autograph to be written thereon with the time in view.

Theinking-ribbon 39 is arranged on two spools or rollers secured on shafts 40, mounted to run, with a suitable amount of friction, in hearings on the frame a and alternately driven in any suitable mannerfor example,through bevel or other spur gearing-from a longitudinally-movable shaft, which is itself driven by a pawl-and-ratehet gearing from the actuating rock-shaft b, the longitudinal motion of the said shaft being obtained through levers from a pin or stud on the inking-ribbon itself, and a separate lever being preferably provided near each spool or roller. In order to insure that the teeth of such spur-gearing shall come into gear when the said shaft is moved longitudinally, one of each pair of interengaging wheels can be mounted on its shaft, so as to provide asmall amount of lost motion, thus enabling one of the pair to move sufficiently to bring the said Wheels into gear with each other.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, viz: On pushing backward the handle 71 the hammer 29 is first actuated to print the time on the strip, after which the l'eed-rollert and shutter 21 are operated simultaneously to feed the part of the paper 3 onto which the autograph is to be written into position beneath the aperture 20 and to open the said aperture, the time print re maining beneath the glass---for example, at

the right-hand side of the said aperture. The autograph is then written on the paper, the handle n being meanwhile held in its rearmost position. On releasing the handle the spring d returns the parts to their original positions, the autograph being then covered by the shutter 21.

The lid or cover m of the casing 41 is secured in position by hooks 42, which extend beneath the lower edge of the upper door 43 of the casing 41, and by a catch or loop 44, secured beneath its front edge and engaging with a spring-pawl 45 on the front wall 46 of the casing. This front wall is made separately and is hinged at 47 to the casing 41, a lock 48 being provided for holding it in its closed position. Steady-pins 49 are also provided at the sides of the cover m, these pins fitting into corresponding holes in the side walls of the casing 41. By these means on either opening the door 43 or the front wall 46 of the case the cover or lid m can be read ily removed, so as to obtain access to the interior, and replaced without unscrewing or interfering with any of the parts of the mechanism. Moreover, the said cover can be readily placed in position and automatically secured when both the door 43 and front wall 46 are locked.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 the handle n is dispensed with and the rock-shaft b is actuated from the cover or lid m, which is made depressible. In this arrangement the said cover or lid is provided with extensions or wings 50, sliding in the walls of the case, and in the front arc-shaped part of which is formed the catch 44. The under side of this cover or lid bears on antifriction-rollers 51 at the ends of levers 52, fixed to the ends of the rock-shaft b. Springs 53, secured to the levers 52, assist in maintaining the rockshaft 1) and the connected parts in their normal position, Fig. 2, and also serve to return the said cover or lid to its uppermost position when displaced. The hooks 42, which in this case form a hinge, engage with the lower edge of a plate 54, detachably secured to the casing 41 by hooks 55 or other suitable means. The action of the levers 52 can be assisted by similarly-acting spring-pressed or counterbalanced arms mounted in the casing 41.

The improved apparatus can be somewhat further modified. For example, it can be used as a memorandum-clock, for which purpose the feed-roller is preferably arranged at the rear and the magazine-spool in front of the aperture 20.

An advantage of great value from the practical point of view obtained by my improved method of construction consists in that on removing the cover m and disconnecting the flexible shaft 7 the complete mechanism can be unscrewed or otherwise unfastened from the casing 41 and removed by an unskilled person, who can immediately replace it by a spare mechanism, and thus prevent any in terruption of the record.

XVhat I claim is 1. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a frame, an actuating-shaft, a feed-roller pivotally mounted in said frame, a ratchet-wheel on said feed-roller, a feed-pawl engaging said ratchet-wheel, an oscillating pawl-carrier bearing said pawl, a wheel connected by a pin and slot to said pawl-carrier, and gearing connecting said wheel to the actuating-shaft of the apparatus, substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore described.

2. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a frame, an actuating-shaft, a magazineroller, a feed-roller pivotally mounted in said frame, a spring-pressed friction-roller bearing against said feed-roller, a ratchet-wheel on said feed-roller, a feed-pawl engaging with said ratchet-wheel, an oscillating pawl-carrier bearing said pawl, a wheel connected by a pin and slot to said pawl-carrier, gearing connecting said wheel to the actuating-shaft of the mechanism, and a receiving-roller, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.

3. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a magazine-roller, time-printing wheels, inking mechanism, a printing-hammer, an actuating-shaft, gearing connecting said hammer and said actuating-shaft, a stationary writing-table arranged above said hammer,a feedroller, gearing having lost motion connecting said feed-roller and said actuating-shaft, a friction-roller coacting with said feed-roller, and a receiving-roller coacting with said feedroller, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.

4. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a writing-table, a cover having an aperture arranged above the said writing-table, guides on said writing-table, a shutter movable in said guides, forks on said shutter, pivotallymounted cranks engaging said forks, an actuating-shaft, and gearing having lost motion connecting said cranks and said actuating shaft, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.

5. The combination in a time-recorder, of a frame, an actuating-shaft, a feed-roller, rings having roughened peripheral surfaces and fitting on the said feed-roller, means for securing said rings on said feedroller, a ratchet-wheel on said feed-roller, a feed-pawl engaging said ratchet-wheel, an oscillating pawl-carrier bearing said pawl, a wheel connected by a pin andslot to said paWLcarrier, and gearing connecting said wheel to the ac tuating-shaft, substantially as described.

0. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a frame, an actuating-shaft, a magazineroller pivotally mounted in said frame, timeprinting mechanism,inking mechanism,asta-= tionary writing-table, a feed-roller, a spring pressed friction-roller engaging with said feed roller, a receiving-roller, a detachable cover, an aperture formed in said cover and registering with said writing-table, a rock shaft pivotally mounted on said cover, an ex Lil ternal handle on said rock-shaft, a crank-arm on said rock-shaft, and a forked lever mounted on said actuating-shaft and engaging said crank-arm, substantially as described.

'7. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a frame, an actuating shaft, a magazineroller pivotally mounted in said frame, timeprinting mechanism, inking mechanis1n,astationary Writing-table, a feed-roller, a springpressed friction-roller engaging said feedroller, a receiving-roller, a detachable cover, an aperture formed in said cover and registering with said Writing-table, a rock-shaft pivotally mounted on said cover, an external handle on said rock-shaft, a c 'ank-arm on said rock-shaft, a forked lever mounted on said actuating-shaft and engaging said crankarm, an arc-shaped rack on said rock-shaft, and a pivoted spring-controlled pawl coacting with said rack, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a casing, an actuatingshaft, a detachable cover to said casing, a rock-shaft pivotally mounted on said cover, an external handle on said rock-shaft, an arc-shaped rack on said rock-shaft, a pivoted spring-controlled pawl coacting with said rack, an internal lever-arm on said rock-shaft, a lever-arm on said actuating-shaft, and a pin and interengaging fork on said lever-arms, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.

9. In a time-recorder, the combination of a frame, an actuating-shaft, a spring controlling said actuating-shaft, means for oscillating said actuating-shaft, a magazine-roller, time-printing wheels, inking mechanism, a pivoted spring-pressed printing-hammer, a springcontrolled bar, linkwork connecting said bar to said actuating-shaft, interengagingprojections on said hammer and said bar, a cam on said bar for tripping said projections, astationarywriting-table, a feed-roller,

gearing having lost motion connecting said feed-roller and said actuating-shaft, a springpressed friction-roller bearing against said feed-roller, a receiving-roller, a casing having an aperture arranged above said Writingtable, a sliding shutter arranged beneath said aperture, guides for said shutter, and gearing having lost motion connecting said shutter and said actuatingshaft, substantially as described.

10. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a frame a magazine roller, time printing Wheels, a printing-hammer, inking mechanism, a writing-table rigidly fixed on said frame above said printing-hammer,a shutter mounted in guides over said table, a feed-roller, and friction and receiving rollers coacting with said feed-roller, the same being adapted to feed and print a recording-strip extending from said magazine-roller, between said timeprinting wheels and said hammer, between said table and said shutter, over said frictionroller, between said frictionroller and said feed-roller, around said feed-roller and between said feed-roller and said receivingroller,and onto said receiving-roller, substantially as described.

11. The combination, in a time-recorder, of a frame, an actuating-shaft, a feed-roller, rings having roughened peripheral surfaces and fitting onto said feed-roller, means for removably securing said rings on said feedroller, and gearing connecting said actuating shaft and said feed-roller, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK BROOK.

lVitnesses:

CHAS. Enw. FREEMAN, C. II. CARR. 

